Ohio State Recruiting: Urban Meyer Raiding Rest Of Big Ten

Jamal Marcus, a top linebacker recruit, has committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Marcus stars for Durham (N.C.) Hillside High school. He is rated a four-star prospect, and holds over 20 scholarship offers, including Auburn, Clemson, Florida, North Carolina, Notre Dame, South Carolina and USC. Marcus narrowed his choice down to two Ohio State and East Carolina before choosing the Buckeyes.

Marcus is a very athletic prospect. Standing 6’2” and weighing 230 pounds, he already possesses the size needed to play in college. Marcus likes to hit, and doesn’t shy away from taking on blockers. Whether he plays immediately, or stars out on special teams, that physicality will be critical at the next level. Marcus needs to learn the intricacies of the linebacker position and gain a better feel for the game, overall, but he is a fine prospect.

More: Let’s listen in on a recruitment falling apart, shall we?

Both Pittman and Spence committed to the Buckeyes shortly after Meyer took over.

Armani Reeves, one of the better cornerback recruits in the 2012 cycle, has committed to Ohio State.

Reeves, from West Roxbury (Ma.) Catholic Memorial High School, was once a Penn State commitment. The sex abuse scandal changed that, and Reeves decommitted, opening things back up.

Armani Reeves is one of the better cornerback recruits in the 2012 cycle. Out of West Roxbury (Ma.) Catholic Memorial High School, Reeves was once a Penn State commitment. The sex abuse scandal changed that, and Reeves decommitted, opening things back up. Reeves holds offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Boston College, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, North Carolina, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Stanford, Utah, Virginia and Wake Forest. But he seems to be favoring Michigan and Ohio State.

And the Wolverines seem to be of particular interest to the 5’10”, 185-pound cornerback, as SB Nation Detroit reports:

Urban Meyer has taken another top recruit from Penn State. Per a report by the Buckeye Battle Cry, Meyer convinced linebacker Camren Williams to decommit from Penn State and commit to Ohio State. Williams is a four-star linebacker from Massachusetts. He stands 6’2” and weighs 215 pounds.

Williams’ teammate, receiver Armani Reeves, a Penn State commitment, is also expected to flip to the Buckeyes by many experts.

Joey O’Connor, a former Penn State verbal commitment, has committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes. O’Connor plays for Windsor (CO). O’Connor officially visited Columbus last weekend and received an offer from the Buckeyes. He committed soon thereafter.

O’Connor is 6’4” and 300 pounds. He held offers from numerous Big Ten and Pac-12 programs, decommiting from Penn State shortly after the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal. O’Connor profiles as an interior lineman for the Buckeyes, but is unlikely to contribute early. O’Connor is rated four stars by three of the major recruiting services, and is widely viewed as one of the top 30 offensive linemen in the country. He participated in the Under Armour All-America Game, and is not an early enrollee.

Pretty sure Cleveland Heights, OH wide receiver Shelton Gibson’s operating with NCAA 12 recruiting math here, not actual math:

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With today’s news that the NCAA rejected Ohio State’s proposed penalties and imposed a scholarship reduction almost double that of what the Buckeye’s submitted, many Ohio State fans will wonder how this will impact Ohio State’s recruiting. And this is an important question, as Ohio State has been on an absolute tear lately on the recruiting trail. Meyer has catapulted Ohio State’s class from decent to excellent, with the additions of defensive linemen Noah Spence and Tommy Schutt.

The new penalty is as follows:

The new path to a bajillion Internet hits: simply become a five-star football recruit and spurn one invested fan base for another.

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What’s not to like about Spence’s game? He has an excellent first step and turns the corner with ease. His build is already impressive and his frame will allow for more. And Spence plays hard, refusing to quit on plays with his consistent motor. Spence isn’t as raw as some of his contemporaries, and at this point his variety of pass-rushing moves is what sets him apart. While most of his moves are to the outside with his speed, he does show an ability to knife inside the tackle and get to the passer.

He’ll need to improve against the run, but should be an early contributor in the Big Ten as a pass rusher.

Last weekend saw Ohio State land Tommy Schutt and Se’Von Pittman after their recruiting visits. This weekend probably won’t feature quite the fireworks, but there is still important work to be done by the Buckeyes.

The top visitor expected this weekend is Noah Spence. We previously discussed Spence here, and the nation’s top uncommitted defensive end remains infatuated with Ohio State after previously being thought to be a Penn State lean. In fact, some believe he is already a silent verbal commitment to Ohio State. I don’t know about that, but I do know that if Meyer reels in Spence, the Buckeyes’ haul of defensive linemen will be one of the best in the country.

As predicted when Urban Meyer took over Ohio State, Se’Von Pittman has spurned Michigan State and committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes, per 11 Warriors:

Pittman, who committed to the Spartans and coach Mark Dantonio in mid-June, had been rumored to be waffling before the Urban Meyer hiring, and it’s now official. At 6’4, 260 Pittman will give the Buckeyes another piece to what is quickly becoming the highest ranked defensive line haul in the school’s recruiting history. He was a high school teammate of current Buckeye Steve Miller, who will be entering his sophomore season.Pittman stars for Canton, Ohio’s Mckinley High School. The four major recruiting services (247, Rivals, Scout and ESPN) universally regard him as one of the best 20 defensive ends in the country.

Per SB Nation Philly:

This was entirely expected, as I touched on this morning.